Yankees: Top free agency priorities for Brian Cashman after 2021 season

4. Target Yan Gomes as Starting Catcher?

While the boys in Pinstripes have promising catching prospects in the minor leagues, none are ready to replace the erratic Gary Sanchez next year. Assuming that the Yanks want to make a change behind the plate, the list of this year’s good free agent catchers is unfortunately thin.

At the very least, the team should consider pursuing Yan Gomes during free agency. Gomes played for the victorious Washington Nationals during their 2019 World Series run and he has a career dWAR of 10 and has 42 Defensive Runs saved over his 10 MLB seasons. Only Yadier Molina and Salvador Perez have a higher defensive WAR during their careers.

Gomes recently turned 34 and is playing well with the Oakland Athletics. This year he produced a .267/.311/.459 slash line while hitting 12 home runs and driving in 45 RBI. He has a 2.4 WAR in 2021. He probably has two or three more years of premier play ahead of him, but at the very least, he can be a short-term stopgap as the Yankees wait for one of their prospects to hit the MLB level.

The decision to tender Sanchez a contract this offseason will be a tough one and since he’s enduring another trying campaign, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Bombers cut him loose rather than pay close to $10 million for his services in 2022.